Hollow-charge warheads of projectiles



T. l. CURL El AL HOLLOW-CHARGE WARHEADS OF PROJECTILES Nov. 15, 1960 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 25. 1959 Nov. 15, 1960 T. I. CURL- ETALHOLLOW-CHARGE WARHEADS 0F PROJECTILES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 25.1959 HOLLOW-CHARGE WARHEADS or rnomcrnns Thomas I. Curl, Pyrford,Surrey, Michael J. F. Ambrose, Staines, Middlesex, and Allen E. Burch,West Byfleet, Surrey, England, assignors to vVickers-Armstrongs(Aircraft) Limited, London, England, a British com- P y Filed Feb.25,1959, Ser. No. 795,383

Claims priority, application Great Britain Mar. 10, 1958 Claims. (Cl.102-56) The invention has reference to the warheads of hollowchar-geprojectiles, more particularly projectiles which are adapted to bedetonated by an impact fuze contained in the nose. It is known to bedesirable, in order to ensure the maximum effect of the explosion of thehollow charge, that detonation should occur when the internal apex ofthe charge is located at a predetermined off-set distance from thesurface of the target, but the consequent necessity for mounting theimpact fuze upon a probe or forward extension of the projectile entailssuch an increase in the dimensions of the latter as to require an undulyunwieldy container for its stowage.

With the object of obviating this draw-back, the present inventionproposes that the percussion contact of the impact fuze of ahollow-charge projectile shall be mounted upon the extremity of aforward extension member or probe which is itself capable of retractionwithin the casing of the projectile when the latter is stowed, resilientmeans being provided for urging the said member forwardly into theoperative position, and further means being provided for locking saidmember in said operative position except when retraction is required.

The application of the invention to the warhead of a hollow-chargeprojectile of the kind which incorporates a propulsion unit and which iscapable of being directed to the target by remote-control means, ishereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Insaid drawings, Fig. l is a perspective view of the apparatusincorporating the invention and Fig. 3 is an elevation of the rear endof the locking mechanism. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of theapparatus but shows an alternative locking mechanism and Fig. 4 is asection on the line IV-IV of Fig. 2.

It will be seen that the forward part of the cylindrical body of theprojectile takes the form of a frustoconical casing 11 which isapertured axially at 111 so as to form a guide for a slidably mountedtubular extension member or probe 12. The forward extremity of saidprobe 12 terminates in inner and outer percussion contacts respectivelymarked '13 and 14 which are connected by suitable electrical conductorswith the fuze, detonator or igniter of the charge contained in the body10. The forward end of the probe 12 may also carry a stout protector cap(not shown) to shield the percussion contacts against shocks or damagewhen the weapon is being handled. The arrangement is such that althoughthe tubular probe 12, together with said percussion contact, is normallylocked in the operative position, it is capable of being retractedslidably within the casing 11 until it is substantially entirely housedwithin the latter. A helical spring 15, wound about the barrel of theprobe 12, is compressed between a coller 16 on the latter and a recessedabutment 112 in the nose of the casing, so that it is energized when theprobe is retracted and then tends to urge the probe outwardly into theoperative position. The forward travel of the probe is limited by aflange 17 on its rear end which abuts against the inside iteci StatesPatent 0 2,969,035 Patented Nov. 15, 1960 surface of the casing adjacentthe aperture 111 in the fully extended position. The probe 12 isprevented from rotating by the engagement of a pin 18 in the casing witha longitudinal slot 19 in the probe 12.

The flange 17 on the probe is recessed at 171, 171 etc. to form splineswhich are adapted to cooperate with a conformably shaped central hole 20in a collar 21 which is mounted in the casing 11 and is to the rear ofthe flange 17 when the flange 17 is in the operative position. Thecollar 21 is capable of rotation and is ordinarily held by a tensionspring 22 as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, or by a torsion spring 211 as shownin Fig. 2, so that the splines on the probe flange 17 are out ofregistration with those of the collar 21, and retractile movement of theprobe 12 into the casing 11 is thereby prevented.

In order to position the probe 12 in the casing 11 for stowage, thecollar 21 is rotated by a lever 23 which protrudes through a slot 24 inthe outer casing 11, so that the collar 21 is brought into registrationwith the probe flange 17, when the probe 12 may be pushed rearwardlyagainst the aforesaid helical spring 15. When the splined flange 17 onthe probe 12 has passed through the collar 21, the latter is preventedfrom rotating and reverting to the obstructing position under theinfluence of said tension spring 22 or the torsion spring 221 by theengagement of a pin 25 in the collar 21 with the abovementioned slot 19in the probe. Thus, the projectile may be stowed in a container which ismade sufliciently long to accommodate it when the probe 12 is fullyretracted, the pressure of the spring 15 ensuring that as soon as theend of the container is removed the probe 12 will immediately assume theoperative position automatically.

If desired, means may be provided for positively retaining the probe inthe retracted condition.

The collar 21 is also provided with slots 213, 213, through which passbolts 214, 214 which are screwed into the casing 11. Said slots 213arranged to permit the required rotation of the collar 21 but theyprevent any axial displacement of the latter.

The collar 21 is alternatively provided with male splines 212 which,when the collar is turned into a given position, will register withrecesses 26, in an inwardly turned rim 27 which forms an integral partof the casing 11. This arrangement permits the easy insertion of thecollar 21 behind said rim 27 and provides means for holding the collaragainst axial displacement therein.

The ability to effect a complete retraction of the probe into the casingis of considerable advantage in that it permits the use of a shorter andmore easily portable container, while it affords protection for thepercussion contact and other parts of the probe when the weapon istransported without the container.

What we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patentis:

1. In a hollow-charge projectile warhead, including a hollow nose casingterminating in .a slidable mounting for an extension member theimprovement comprising, a substantially cylindrical extension memberhaving an impact fuze percussion contact and including an outwardlyextending flange portion at its inner end, said member being axiallyslidable between an extended position outside said casing wherein saidflange portion abuts against a portion of said casing to a retractedposition within said casing, a collar rotatably mounted in said nosecasing, said collar and said flange portion including complementaryoutstanding and recessed portions arranged to permit passage of saidflange portion through said collar when said complementary portions arealigned, and means to bias said extension member to a fully extendedposition with the flange portion abutting against a portion of saidcasing and with the major portion of said extension member extendingoutside said casing.

2. A warhead as claimed in claim 1 including means effective, when saidextension member is in the retracted condition, for holding saidrotatable collar in position to permit the outward movement of saidmember to the operative position.

3; A warhead as claimed in claim 2, wherein the extension member islongitudinally slotted and including a pin in said casing extending intosaid slot, whereby said rotatable collar is locked angularly tosaidextension member.

4. A warhead as claimed in claim 1, comprising means 5 which it willprevent retraction of the extension member.

References Cited in the me of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Rost eta]. Dec. 17, 1946 2,737,888 Brandt Mar. 13, 1956

